PVinMotion 2025: Advancing Solar Mobility and Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaics

The recent PVinMotion conference in Miyazaki, dedicated to vehicle-integrated photovoltaics (VIPV), strongly resonated with the mission of advancing solar mobility. Bringing together researchers, industry leaders, and innovators, the event provided a unique opportunity to explore the latest developments in solar technology for vehicles. ASOM proudly sponsored the hybrid format allowing participants from all over the world to tune in, join the discussions and watch through recordings of the presentations.

With 97 participants from 17 countries, including ASOM members such as Lightyear, TNO, Fraunhofer, CSEM, IM Efficiency, AGC, Toyota and SolarWing, the conference is an essential platform for knowledge exchange. Over the course of the event, attendees engaged in discussions on modelling, real-time on-road measurements, lightweight construction, manufacturing advancements, integration concepts, and new solar cell technologies for VIPV.

Exploring the Potential of Solar-Powered Vehicles

Throughout the conference, numerous institutes and companies presented innovative VIPV solutions. Yamaguchi unveiled a record-breaking triple-junction solar cell module achieving 33.7% efficiency, significantly improving the potential driving range of solar-powered vehicles. Meanwhile, Lightyear shared real-world data, demonstrating that their vehicle required only 16 days of external charging per year, compared to 54 days without integrated PV.

Further presentations emphasized the efficiency of solar panels on various types of vehicles. IM Efficiency showcased how solar panels on trucks could generate up to 80 kWh/day, while Mizumo (AIST) demonstrated that solar panels on electric vans could provide up to 53% of energy needs on a sunny day. Discussions also explored on the effect of (dynamic) shading on the irradiance during driving as well as when parking within and outside of cities.

The conference was an excellent opportunity for networking, with 76% of attendees joining onsite in Miyazaki and 24% participating online. The event kicked off with Task-17 as international research collaboration meeting and PT600 as international VIPV standardization meeting and a networking evening, bringing together over 50 VIPV enthusiasts from more than ten different nationalities.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Solar Mobility

With the growing momentum in solar mobility, PVinMotion 2026 is already on the horizon. The next event will be October 28^th-30^th, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. As more vehicles with integrated PV systems hit the roads, ongoing research and real-world testing will continue to shape the future of VIPV technology.

With Europe positioning itself as a leader in VIPV innovation through ASOM, the future of solar-supported transportation is brighter than ever. See you at PVinMotion 2026!